Nemanja Vidic (r): '[Ferguson] respects any sportsman playing on a high level because of the sacrifices they have made in their lives'

Nemanja Vidic hopes to be cheering fellow Serbian Novak Djokovic to victory in the men's singles final at Wimbledon tomorrow - to ensure he has bragging rights over Alex Ferguson.

Vidic accompanied his former boss at Manchester United to the All England Club on Wednesday, and opted to watch Djokovic defeat Tomas Berdych in his quarter-final on Court One before seeing how Murray beat Fernando Verdasco on Centre.

The tough-tackling defender was then otherwise engaged yesterday, taking part in David Moyes' first press conference as United manager at Old Trafford, as Djokovic was emerging victorious from his epic semi-final with Juan Martin del Potro.

It was much later on that Murray completed the final everyone hoped for.

It is the final Vidic and Ferguson agreed would be the best for tennis, even if they have sharply differing views about who they want to win.

Ferguson has given Murray advice on handling pressure that the home hope described as "gold dust", and it could come in useful tomorrow.

"Sir Alex is a big supporter of Andy Murray and I had a word with him on Wednesday about what it would be like if both he and Novak reached the final," Vidic told Press Association Sport.

"He said he would love that final. I said the same.

"The players are good friends as well. It should be a really good game - although naturally I hope Novak wins."

"The players are good friends as well. It should be a really good game - although naturally I hope Novak wins" - Nemanja Vidic

Ferguson has never made any secret of his patriotic streak, famously gatecrashing a press conference following Murray's US Open semi-final triumph over Berdych in New York last year.

But clearly, Vidic has no intention of abandoning his roots to appease the 71-year-old.

"It will be fun," Vidic said. "I desperately want Novak to win so that next time I see Sir Alex I will be able to have a conversation with him about the tennis again."

While Murray is single-handedly providing Britain with a reason to be proud about its tennis again, like Vidic, Djokovic has propelled Serbia into the headlines for all the right reasons.

"I am really proud of what he has done," said the Red Devils skipper.

"I got interested in tennis because of him. But he has not only done so much for tennis in Serbia, but for all the people there through the charitable work he does.

"He is a legend in my country and so well known all over the world.

"I accept Sir Alex is a big supporter of Andy Murray but I know also that he is a true sportsman.

"He respects any sportsman playing on a high level because of the sacrifices they have made in their lives and all the work they have done throughout their careers.

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